A new report from Bloomberg claims that Xbox has cancelled one of its long-in-development titles, Contraband.
Jason Schreier of Bloomberg posted to Bluesky, before following up with a full article, breaking the news that Contraband is the latest in a long line of Xbox projects to cease development. Avalanche, the studio behind the Just Cause series, had been working on the co-op “Smuggler’s Paradise” game for some years, with the initial reveal coming back in 2021 during an Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase at E3.
Avalanche Studios posted a statement on the game’s fate on its website, but has yet to share this across any social channels. “Active development has now stopped while we evaluate the project’s future,” the statement reads. “We’re thankful for the excitement we’ve seen from the community since we announced, and will give an update on what’s next as soon as we can.”
With near complete radio silence since its reveal in 2021, it certainly isn’t surprising news, especially with Xbox’s current scorched earth approach. Xbox has been laying off people left and right since it acquired Activision Blizzard King back in 2023; however, the latest round of cuts has been particularly brutal, with The Initiative being completely disbanded following the cancellation of Perfect Dark.
Schreier’s report doesn’t mention any layoffs or a studio closure, which is a silver lining. Still, it’s hard to think positively for Avalanche amidst all of the consolidation fallout and corporate cost-cutting. Here’s hoping that the team can find its feet and move on to another project with some speed.
Do you have any thoughts on the mysterious Contraband? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.
Shoutouts to Bloomberg.
Adam's undying love for all things PlayStation can only be rivalled by his obsession with vacuuming. Whether it's a Dyson or a DualShock in hand you can guarantee he has a passion for it. PSN: TheVacuumVandal XBL: VacuumVandal Steam: TheVacuumVandal
